mattress turner



July Z. 1957 J. A. PARKS MATTRESS TURNER Filed Nov. 26. 1954 INV EN TOR JAMES ANDREW PARKS This invention relates to =a device for turning the mattress of a domestic bed.

It is frequently desirable to turn vthe mattress on a ybed butsuch mattresses are so heavy that this is not easily done, especially since this .task usually falls to the lot of a woman. Although mattress turning devices have been developed theyhave either been so large and complicated .as to beiinancially out of .reach of the ordinary purchaser or `theyrequired to 'be constructed as part of the bed structure so -that theycould Anot be installed in abed of thepurchasers choice.

lThe device of this invention is lnot complicated nor expensive. It can lbe `easily installed in most beds of current manufacture without skilled labor. The major part of the device may be easily transferred from bed to bed so that in afhotel orinstitution aisingle device may be made to serve alarge number-of beds.

The device is also useable tohold'the mattress upright if it isdesired-to-air both-sides 4of-it 'at once. 'When not in -use Alit takes up vlittleroom-and maybe easily stored away. The'deviee -may-bestbe-understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l'is an `elevation of-a bed equipped with the mattress turner showing, in full lines, the mattress at rest on the bed and, in dash lines, the mattress raised above the bed ready for turning,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the bed, similarly equipped,

Figure 3 is an elevation of part of the device, equipped with an attachment for airing the bed for extended periods of time,

Figure 4 shows the attachment itself,

Figure 5 is a partial view showing the pivoting device, and

Figure 6 shows the plate to be secured to the bed for receiving one unit of the turning device.

In the drawings, a bed is shown made up of box springs 10 provided with legs 12 and having a mattress 14.

The mattress is shown with a band 16 made of metal or heavy webbing completely encircling the mattress 14 and of slightly less height than the mattress. It is shown passing beneath the hand holds 18 and it is intended to be left permanently upon the mattress. Encircling the mattress are a number of top straps 20 and bottom straps 22. These straps are secured to the band 16 by means of snap fasteners 24 so that the straps may be removed. It is contemplated that the top straps 20 will be removed when the bed is made up for sleeping while the bottom straps 22 are left in place. It is to be understood that when the mattress is turned, the top straps will become bottom straps and vice versa, the two sets being identical and jointly serve the same purpose.

At each end of the band, in the center thereof, is a plate 26 suitably riveted to the band and provided with a short stub axle protruding out from the plate.

Immediately below each plate 26 on the mattress is secured slotted plate 30 provided with tapered slot 32 for receiving bayonet 34 mounted on jack 36.

The jack 36 has a base for outer cylinder 40. Tele- Patented July 2, 1957 :one to the next. The innermost cylinder 42e supports `hanger bar 44, which may itself ybe telescoped within the inner cylinder 42e. The hanger bar 44 is provided with angular extension 46, having at its end thereof a fork 48 suitably journaled to receive stub axle 28. An inlet air pipe 50 communicates with the base of outer cylinder '40.

To supply air to the jacksa hose harness is provided with two arms (52 extending out from 4Valve block 54. The valve block 54 has an inlet valve 56, which for economy of manufacture, is of standard type employed on automobile tires. VThe valve block also has an air bleed valve 58 for'letting air-out of the system. Airis pumped into the system by a standard air pump 60 provided with the usual'hose and valve fitting 62 for connection to the inlet valve 56.

For supporting lthe mattress for an extended period of time for airing the mattress, a crutch 64 may be used. To the shaft 66 is attached foot V68 having a portion that partly Vencircles the cylinder 40 of ythe jack. A crotch 70 may be placed under the extension of the hanger bar 44 and to prevent displacement of the crutch a strap 72 maybe secured to the foot'of the crutch for passage through a slotted lug 74 after encircling the cylinder of thevjack.

To install the turning device, duplicate plates 30 yare secured to each end of the box spring. Also the band 16 is passed around the mattress 14 under the hand holds 18 yand ythe ends secured together. If instead of the verticalhand'holds as'shown, the mattress is provided with horizontal hand holds, .slots maybe placed in the band through which the horizontal hand holds `may protrude. Bottom straps -22fare passed under-themattressand the snap fasteners 524 are snapped in .place on the band. The bed is'now equipped with the only portions of the apparatus'that areleftin place on it.

To turn the mattress the top straps 20 are snapped in place. The two jacks 36 are put into position with the bayonets 34 positioned in the plates 30 and the forks beneath the axles 28. The hose arms 52 are connected to their respective inlet pipes 50. The bleed valve 58 is closed and the air pump 60 connected by valve fitting 62 to inlet valve 56.

When the air pump is operated the inner cylinders 4Z will be raised out of the jack thereby raising the mattress as shown in the dash lines of Figure l. When the mattress has been raised to a sufiicient height to clear the spring, it may be turned over with the stub axles 28 pivoting in forks 48. At this point air may be let slowly out of the system by bleed valve 58 until the mattress comes to rest on the'spring in turned position. The uppermost set of straps may be removed and stored with the jacks and hose in an out-of-the-way corner.

If it is desired to air both sides of the mattress at once, while the mattress is still elevated as shown in partial Figure 3, the crutch 64 may be slipped endwise between jack 40 and the end of spring 10 so that the crotch 70 supports hanger bar 44 while the foot 68 rests on the iloor. The strap 72 is wrapped around the outer cylinder 40 of the jack and slipped through lug 74 to fasten it in place thereby firmly securing crutch and jack to each other. A similar operation is carried on on the other end of the bed. The use of the crutch eliminates possibility of the mattress dropping down due to air leakage in the systern. When it is desired to return the mattress to the bed, suiiicient air is pumped into the system to make up for leakage and to raise the arms 46 slightly out of the crotches 70. The crutches may then be removed and the air let out of the system by means of valve 58.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple, economical construction. It may be attached to existing beds as easily as it may be installed in new beds. The portions that remain attached to the bed while in use are unobstrusive. Those portions which are required for the turning operation are easily moved and do not take upa great deal of storage room. What is more, the portions permanently attached to the bed are the least expensive part of the apparatus so that it is not necessary to purchase a complete turning outt for each bed but only the inexpensive permanent attachments with a single set of the operative portions being employed for use with a number of beds in the same household, hotel or other institution.

lt will be obvious that numerous modifications may be made in my invention withoutv departing from the spirit thereof. Certain of the parts may be rearranged to accommodate them to the various styles of beds and some of the parts may be made adjustable for the same purpose. For example, both the hanger bar and its extension may be so constructed in order to more conveniently position the jacks in place. Also, instead of stub axles, ball shaped knobs cooperating with hemispherical cups on the extensions may be used.

What I claim and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Apparatus for cooperating with the parts of a bed to permit the turning and ventilation of the mattress thereof comprising; a stiff band encircling the border of the mattress and secured thereto, a plurality of at straps for the upper and lower sides of the mattress extending from one side to the other thereof and forming with the band, a cage for holding the mattress, cooperative means for detachably securing the ends of the straps to the band, a pair of axle members secured to and projecting outwardly from saidband on opposite ends of the mattress in the center thereof, a pair of bayonet sockets to be secured tothe bed frame at opposite ends in the center thereof, a pair of fluid operated jacks provided with bayonet prongs for mounting in said sockets, journal means on each of the extensible portions of said jacks for supporting said axle members, a conduit connecting the fluid inlets of said jacks, a pump for increasing the pressure in the fluid system of said jacks and conduit, and means for controllably dissipating pressure in said system.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of props for holding the journal means when in extended position and means for securing the feet of said props to the base of said jacks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump is detachable from the conduit and the conduit is detachable from the jacks whereby the various elements may be taken apart for transfer and storage.

4. The apparatus of claim l wherein the journal means is located on an inwardly bent part of the extended portion of the jack whereby the axles may be supported close to the point of their attachment to the band.

5. Apparatus for cooperating with the parts of a bed to permit the turning and ventilation of the mattress thereof comprising; a stiff band encircling the border of the mattress and secured thereto, a plurality of at straps for the upper and lower sides of the mattress extending from one side to the other thereof and forming with the band, a cage for holding the mattress, a pair of axle members secured to and projecting outwardly from said band on opposite ends of the mattress in the center thereof, a pair of fluid operated jacks, means for connecting the jacks to the bed at opposite ends in the center thereof, journal means on each of the extendible portions of said jacks for supporting said axle members, a conduit connecting the fluid inlets of said jacks, a source of fluid pressure in the fluid system of said jacks and conduit, and means for controllably dissipating pressure in said system.

Y References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

